Friday, May 5, 2017

Alternate and Alternative

The words alternate and alternative are closely
related, but they can't be used interchangeably in all cases. Even native English speakers get these mixed up.

Definitions

Alternate
As a verb, alternate
(the last syllable rhymes with late)
means to happen by turns, to take turns, or to exchange places.As a noun,
alternate (the
last syllable rhymes with net)
refers to a substitute--someone who is prepared to take the place of someone
else.As an
adjective, alternate
(again, the last syllable rhymes with net)
means occurring by turns or being one of two or more choices.
Alternative
As a noun, alternative
refers to one of two or more possibilities or something that remains to be
chosen.As an
adjective, alternative
means offering a choice (between or among two or more possibilities) or
something different from the usual or conventional.See the
usage notes below.

Examples

Each year, the
names of hurricanes alternate
between male and female.

Each year
since 1989, a turkey--and its alternate--have
been pardoned by the president. An alternate
is chosen just in case the first bird can't perform its duties.

"I
remember when you used to keep the car on the street and switch it from
one side of the street to the other every night, because of the alternate-side
parking rules."
(Calvin Trillin, Tepper
Isn't Going Out. Random House, 2001)

A nurse and a
physical therapist visit my grandmother on alternate days.

The alternative was to attempt
to land the plane on a highway.

My brother
attends an alternative
school for bright and independent students.

Usage
Notes

[U]sage issues are associated with these two words. The
first is whether there can be more than two alternatives. This question
was raised in the last half of the 19th century because the Latin word alter, from which alternative is derived, means
the other of two. Fortunately, this issue has been laid to rest.
Contemporary commentators unanimously consider it pedantry to reject 'We
have three alternatives.'

"The second issue is whether the adjective alternate can be used as a synonym of alternative,
as in 'alternate plan,' 'alternate date,' or 'alternate music.' This use
of the adjective is obviously closely related to the meaning of the noun alternate and is well enough
established to be recorded by all dictionaries. Nevertheless, since many
commentators still consider it a mistake, it is not recommended in formal
writing."
(Margery Fee and Janice McAlpine, Guide
to Canadian English Usage, 2nd ed. Oxford University Press,
2007)

Pitfalls to Avoid
"Alternatives
are joined by and,
not or:
"The alternatives
are victory and
(not or)
surrender. And they are not to be modified by other: 'The alternative
(not the other alternative)
is to visit France.' The combination the
other alternative is as redundant as two alternatives. Do not say,
'They had no alternatives.'
Say 'They had no alternative.'"
(Morton S. Freeman, The
Wordwatcher's Guide to Good Writing & Grammar. Writer's
Digest Books, 1990)

Alternative and Choice
"[A]lternative
carries with it two nuances absent from choice.
First, alternative
may suggest adequacy for some purpose (an alternative to driving); and
second, it may suggest compulsion to choose (the alternatives are liberty
and death)."
(Bryan Garner, Garner's
Modern American Usage, 3rd ed. Oxford University Press, 2009)

Practice

(a) It's a
good idea to _____ strength-building exercises with aerobic exercises.

(b) An _____ who replaces a juror takes the same oath and has the same
authority as the other jurors.

(c) Because we couldn't afford to purchase a house, our only _____ was renting.

(d) Many fathers and mothers who do not have custody of their children pick
them up on _____ weekends.Answers to
Practice Exercises: Alternate
and Alternative(a) It's a
good idea to alternate
strength-building exercises with aerobic exercises.

(b) An alternate
who replaces a juror takes the same oath and has the same authority as the
other jurors.

(c) Because we couldn't afford to purchase a house, our only alternative was
renting.

(d) Many fathers and mothers who do not have custody of their children pick
them up on alternate
weekends.

Already have a TESOL or TEFL qualification but teach young children? Our TEYL Certificate Course (Teaching English to Young Learners) is a completely different course. Designed by experienced teachers of kindergarten and early primary ages, this course is full of insight and activities geared specifically to the younger ages.

Click here to find out more about this valuable resource for teachers.